Therapeutic device

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic device to achieve myofascial release, having holders that close against and grasps an extremity when pulled. A cord, which is resilient and flexible, is removably secured to each holder. The opposite ends of the cords are connected to various means such as a handle or a rope for pulling the cords.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to therapeutic devices and more particularly to a therapeutic device for myofascial release.

[0003] 2. Prior Art and Objects

[0004] The need for myofascial release has been long known. Myofascial release is a mild and gentle stretching technique that is applied to the body in areas of restrictions that are causing pain and/or limitation or movement. Myo means muscle and Fascia is the tough connective tissue that surrounds and infuses every structure in the body. It helps to support and protect those structures and also creates separation between vessels, organs, bones and muscles. Restrictions may occur from some form of trauma that causes an inflammatory reaction. These restrictions or adhesions glue structures together causing both pain and limitation of movement.

[0005] Traditionally, a therapist would pull on the fingers or other extremities to relieve the myofasial condition but a device has never been known to be used for such a purpose by a therapist with vastly improved benefits.

[0006] The Collier Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,093 teaches a device for use in exercising the toes by means of a resilient connection to the leg. Use of hollow rope that closes down when pulled and thus serves as a finger holder has also been known as is shown in the Collier Patent, just cited as well as in the Thomas Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,961.

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for myofascial release.

[0008] It is a further object to provide a device for myofascial release that can be used in a variety of ways to provide varying relief.

[0009] It is still another object to provide a device for myofascial release that is both economical to produce but durable and dependable.

[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A therapeutic device is provided for myofascial release which has a holder that closed against and grasps an extremity when pulled. A length of cord, which is resilient and flexible has an inside end and an outside end. Means is secured to the holder and to the inside end of the length of cord for removable connecting the holder to the cord. Means connected to the outside end of the cord is used to pull the cord.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device lying flat on a horizontal surface.

[0013]FIG. 1A is a cross-section view along line 1A of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device attached to the fingers of a hand with the cords under tension.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a glove to be fitted over the hand for use in situations where pulling through the fingers is not desirable.

[0016]FIG. 4 a pictorial view of a boot to permit use of the therapeutic device on the leg without pulling on the toes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS

[0017] NUMERAL DESCRIPTION 11 Outside End 13 Inside End 15 Fingers 17 Holders 19 Strands 21 Open End (Holders) 23 Inside End (Holders) 25 Holder Ring 27 Holder Collar 29 Main Ring 31 Cords 33 Inside End (Cords) 35 Hook 37 Flexible Lock 39 Outside End (Cords) 41 Cord Rings 43 Glove 44 Hand 45 Hand Binding 46 Wrist 47 Glove Rings 49 Finger Tips 51 Foot 53 Legs 55 Boot 57 Foot Binding 59 Ankle 61 Boot Rings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Looking at FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the components of the device are shown. The device has an outside end 11 and an inside end 13. The inside end 13 is affixed to the extremities, in this specific situation, the fingers 15 of a person being treated and the outside end 11 is affixed to a wall or a floor or ceiling or is pulled by a therapist. The fingers 15 may be replaced by other extremities.

[0019] At the inside end 13 are holders 17. Since the human hand has five fingers 15, there are normally five holders 17. Similarly, there are five toes. The holders 17 are made from a hollow rope preferably made from polypropylene. The hollow rope is formed of woven strands 19 and when placed on the fingers 15 or other extremities and pulled, the hollow rope constricts and closes down upon the finger 15 thereby gripping the finger 15. The use of such a hollow rope for gripping a finger 15 or anything else placed inside the hollow rope is known. The best result for this invention is to grasp the fingers 15 as close to the end of the finger 15 as possible as this provides the greatest myofascial relief.

[0020] The holders 17 each have an open end 21 which is also the inside end which is placed over the fingers 15. The opposite or outside end 23 of each holder 17 has a holder ring 25 with an extension (not shown) which fits into the holder 17. A holder collar 27 is placed on the holder 17 adjacent the outside end 23 and clamps down on the extension (not shown) thereby retaining each holder ring 25 at the outside end 23of the holder 17.

[0021] At the outside end 11 of the device a main ring 29 is provided. The main ring 29 is preferably a split ring. Between the main ring 29 and the holder rings 25, a series of cords 31 are provided. The cords 31 are flexible and resilient. It has been found preferable to use a cord 31 which is round and has a quarter inch diameter. Such a cord 31 has a capacity for a twenty pound pull which provides the desired results. The cords 31 each preferably have a length of approximately one foot and at their inside ends 33 are connected to the holders 17. At the inside end 33, each cord 31 has a hook 35 with a flexible lock 37 attached to it. By depressing the flexible lock 37, the hook 35 can be opened to remove the hook 35. This is particularly important as individual patients have different size fingers 15 or other extremities and hollow rope of varying internal diameters are available for the holders 17. By means of the hooks 35 being designed for ready removal, different sized holders 17 can be easily installed to permit the greatest comfort and effectiveness for each patient.

[0022] At the outside end 39 of each cord 31, remote from the holders 17, a cord ring 41 is affixed to the cord 31. The cord rings 41 are solid but since the main ring 29 is a split ring, the cord rings 41 can be easily slipped on and off the main ring 29. This permits the removal of any one cord 31 and its holder 17 from the device in the event it is determined for whatever reason that pulling should not be applied to any one or more fingers 15 or extremities.

[0023] A handle (not shown) may be attached to the main ring 29 so that a therapist can pull against the fingers 15 or other extremities of the patient being treated. In the alternative, the main ring 29 can be attached by a rope (not shown) to a ceiling or the floor or a wall. By using varying locations for the rope, the patient can pull against the rope and produce varying results due to the direction of force being applied. Likewise, the duration of the pulling may be varied.

[0024] In FIG. 3 an enclosure for the hand or glove 43 is shown on a hand 44. The glove 43, as is normally expected for a glove, fits securely on the hand 44. A hand binding 45, which is permanently affixed at one end to the glove 43, is wrapped about the wrist 46 and pulled tight and then secured at the opposite end to the glove 43 by any suitable means, such as hook and loop material (not shown).

[0025] The glove 43 is used for patients whose hands 44 are not capable of withstanding the pull through the hands 44 that occurs when the holders 17 are placed on the fingers 15. Various reasons cause such a situation and one possible condition would be arthritis in the hands 44. However, a patient whose hand 44 is not capable of use of the therapeutic device can still obtain benefit from the therapeutic device in the arms and shoulders.

[0026] Glove rings 47 are secured to the glove 43 at each of the finger tips 49. The glove rings 47 serve the same purpose as the holder rings 25. The glove rings 47 are secured to the finger tips 49 of the glove 43 by any suitable means. The cords 81 of the therapeutic device previously described for use directly on the fingers 15, are secured to the glove rings 47 by the hooks 35. The hooks 35 are also used with the therapeutic device when it is placed directly on the fingers 15.

[0027] The therapeutic device also has benefits when used on the feet 51 and legs 53 but since the foot 51 is generally situate at approximately right angles to the leg 53, connection to the toes in the same manner as to the fingers 15, may not always be an appropriate manner to achieve myofascial release in the legs 53. Myofascial release in the foot 51 is possible by connection to the toes. However, as with the hands 44, conditions such as arthritis can required that no pull be placed on the toes. In FIG. 4, a foot enclosure or boot 55 is shown. The boot 55 is secured to the foot 51 and held on the foot 51 by means of a foot binding 57 which wraps about the foot 57 and the ankle 59. The foot binding 57 is also held in place by any suitable means as with the hand binding 45.

[0028] Boot rings 61 are secured to the boot 55. In FIG. 4, three boot rings 61 are shown but with a boot ring 61 on the opposite side adjacent the ankle 59, at least four boot rings 61 are available on the boot 55. By connecting the hooks 35 to the boot rings 61, the leg 53 can be benefitted by the use of the therapeutic device. The forces applied to the leg 53 will be more in line with the leg 53 and possibly in addition, a foot 57 incapable of withstanding the pull, will not be damaged.

[0029] The device may be used in a variety of ways by a therapist. Extremities, excepting injured extremities are placed into the holders 17. Usually one to two pounds of traction are applied to an outstretch arm. The traction is continued for a minute and a half to two minutes. Then traction is stopped and then the treatment is released. The device when held in the hand of the therapist and when connected to a fixed location permits varying the angle of pull.

[0030] It is to be understood that the drawings and description matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

The claims are:
 1. A therapeutic device for use to achieve myofascial release, the therapeutic device comprising: a holder that closes against and grasps an extremity when pulled; a cord, the cord being resilient and flexible, the length of cord having an inner end and an outer end; means secured to the holder and means secured to the inner end of the length of cord for removably connecting the holder to the cord; and means connected to the outer end of the cord for pulling the cord.
 2. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the holder is a hollow rope of woven strands which constrict and close when pulled.
 3. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the means for removably connecting the holder to the cord is a hook with a spring lock and the means secured to the holder is a holder ring.
 4. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the means connected to the outer end of the cord is a cord ring.
 5. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the cord has the capacity for approximately a twenty pound pull.
 6. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the cord has a circular cross section with a diameter of approximately a quarter inch.
 7. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein: the means connected to the outer end of the cord is a cord ring; and further including a main ring, the cord ring being removably attached to the main ring.
 8. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the cord has a length of approximately one foot.
 9. A therapeutic device for use to achieve myofascial release, the therapeutic device comprising: a plurality of holders that close against and grasp an extremity when pulled; a plurality of cords, each cord being resilient and flexible and having an inner end and an outer end; means secured to the holders and secured to the inside end of each of the plurality of cords for removably connecting each of the plurality of holders to one of the plurality of cords; and means connected to the outer end of the plurality of cords for pulling the cords.
 10. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each holder is a hollow rope of woven strands which constrict and close when pulled.
 11. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein the means for removably connecting each holder to a cord is a hook with a spring lock and the means secured to each holder is a holder ring.
 12. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein the means connected to the outside end of the plurality of cords are cord rings.
 13. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each cord has the capacity for approximately a twenty pound pull.
 14. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each cord has a circular cross section with a diameter of approximately a quarter inch.
 15. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein: the means connected to the outside end of each cord is a cord ring; and further including a main ring, the cord rings being removably attached to the main ring.
 16. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each cord has a length of approximately one foot.
 17. A therapeutic device for use on extremities to achieve myofascial release, the therapeutic device comprising: five holders, each one of which that closes against and grasps an extremity when pulled; five holder rings, one of said holder rings being connected to one of the five holders; five cords, each cord being resilient and flexible, each cord having an inner end and an outer end; five hooks, each with a flexible lock, each of the five hooks being connected to the outer end of one of the cords, each of the five hooks being connected to a holder ring; a main ring, the main ring being split; five cord rings, one cord ring being connected to the outer end of each of the five cords; and the five cord rings being mounted on the split ring.
 18. A therapeutic device according the claim 17 wherein each cord has a circular cross section with a diameter of approximately a quarter inch.
 19. A therapeutic device according the claim 17 wherein each cord has the capacity for approximately a twenty pound pull.
 20. A therapeutic device according the claim 17 wherein each cord has a length of approximately one foot.
 21. A therapeutic device to achieve myofascial release, thetherapeutic device comprising: an enclosure secured to an extremity; a plurality of cords, each cord being resilient and flexible and having an inner end and an outer end; means secured to the enclosure and secured to the inside end of each of the plurality of cords for removably connecting each of the plurality of cords to the enclosure; and means connected to the outer end of the plurality of cords for pulling the cords.
 22. A therapeutic device according to claim 21 wherein the enclosure is a glove.
 23. A therapeutic device according to claim 21 wherein the enclosure is a boot. 